Leon Calvert discography...
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Leon Calvert discography...
Born in Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex in 1927 Leon Calvert began playing the trumpet during childhood. His family had moved to Manchester very early in his life so when he turned professional as a teenager he joined Jack Nieman's Band at the Plaza in Manchester. He moved with this band to London in 1945 and played on the dance band circuit in north London before joining Paul Lombard's Band on the liner Mauretania from late 1947 to spring 1948. He joined Oscar Rabin in 1948 and also became a founder member of Club Eleven where he played in the Johnny Dankworth Quintet.

He changed bands regularly as well as undertaking extensive freelance session work. The bands he worked with included Ambrose in 1949 and Tito Burns from 1950 to 1951, before a long stay of four years with Carroll Gibbons.
In the mid 1950s the bands included Ken Moule, Buddy Featherstonhaugh and the London Jazz Orchestra. From the summer of 1958 he did three years back on the dance band circuit with Denny Boyce.

In the late 1950s he briefly joined Tony Crombie in the sensational Jazz Inc band before moving to Vic Lewis before joining John Dankworth in 1961. His jazz work has been limited. His earliest recorded work with the Steve Race Bop Group in 1949 showed him to be Britain's earliest 'cool' trumpeter drawing his inspiration from the early work of Miles Davis on Charlie Parker's Dial and Savoy recordings.
Calvert's cool style appealed to Johnny Dankworth who's own playing always had a reserved sound and the trumpeter spent the most prominent part of his jazz career with Dankworth's early 1960s' big band. Calvert's contributions to the two suites which Dankworth penned at this time, What The Dickens and The Zodiac Variations, are very affected by the style of the Miles Davis / Gil Evans recordings.
He recorded in the late 1950s and early 1960 with Ken Moule and Tony Crombie. Subsequently concentrating on freelance work for radio, films, television and studio recording work although he continued to play jazz gigs.

Steve Race Bop Group - August 31st, 1949 (Paxton)
Johnny Dankworth (as), Leon Calvert (tp), Steve Race (p), Pete Chilver (g), Jack Fallon (b), Norman Burns (d).
Vertigo*/Marzipan*/Bugle Call Bop*/Microcosmo*.
(*Jasmine CD - Bop-in' Britain Vol 1)

Tito Burns and his Sextet - March 6th, 1951 (Esquire)
Leon Calvert (tp), Jimmy Chester (as,bs), Rex Morris (ts), Tito Burns (acc), Ronnie Price (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Derek Price (d), Terry Devon (vocal).
Johnny Come Lately*/East Of Suez*/Somebody Loves Me*/Everloving Blues*.
(*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...)

Buddy Featherstonhaugh New Quintet - January 5th, 1956 (Nixa NJE1016)
Leon Calvert (tp), Buddy Featherstonhaugh (cl,bs), Roy Sidwell (ts), Bill Stark (b), Paul Brodie (d).
Buddy's Bounce*/Yesterdays*/Constellation*/Have You Met Miss Jones*.
(*Vocalion CD - Jazz Today - Buddy Featherstonhaugh, Harry Klein and others)

Discographical detail below is not listed in Lord's Jazz Discography and has been taken from Jazz Journal which published the results of work undertaken by Bernard Shirley, Tony Middleton and Pete Lay. The information on the label is incomplete and misleading....
Bix Curtis Jazz Group - July 28th, 1956 (Jazz from Club Basie - World Record Club R46)
Leon Calvert (tp), Harry Klein (bs), Derek Smith (p), Sammy Stokes (b), Allan Ganley (d).
Flamingo.

Ken Moule Arranges For: - November 22nd, 1956 (Decca)
Leon Calvert (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Dougie Robinson (as), Don Rendell (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Ken Moule (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d).
Son Of Ponckle*/Nice Work If You Can Get It*/Prelude To A Kiss*.
(*Vocalion CD - Jazz At Toad Hall/Ken Moule Arranges For)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Ronnie Ross Seven Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Don Rendell Six Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)

Ken Moule Arranges For: - December 6th, 1956 (Decca)
Leon Calvert (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Dougie Robinson (as), Don Rendell (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Ken Moule (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d).
You've Done Something To My Heart8/Makin Whopee*.
(*Vocalion CD - Jazz At Toad Hall/Ken Moule Arranges For)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Ronnie Ross Seven Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Don Rendell Six Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)

Ken Moule Arranges For: - January 17th, 1957 (Decca)
Leon Calvert (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Dougie Robinson (as), Don Rendell (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Ken Moule (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d).
Lullaby Of The Leaves*/The Tired Badger*/Cobbly*/Lulu's Back In Town*/My Funny Valentine*/High Ratio*.
(*Vocalion CD - Jazz At Toad Hall/Ken Moule Arranges For)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Ronnie Ross Seven Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Don Rendell Six Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)

Ken Moule's Music - January 28th/February 4th, 1958 (Decca)
Leon Calvert (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Dickie Hawdon (ten-h), Johnny Scott, Roy Willox(or Derek Grossmith) (f), Dougie Robinson (as), Bob Efford (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bob Edwards (tu), Ken Moule (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d).
Messin' About In Boats*/Mr.Toad*/Mouse Carol*/Wind In The Willows*.
(*Vocalion CD - Jazz At Toad Hall/Ken Moule Arranges For)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Ronnie Ross Seven Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Don Rendell Six Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)

Ken Moule's Music - February 11th/13th, 1958 (Decca)
Leon Calvert (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Dougie Robinson (as), Bob Efford, Art Ellefson(or Johnny Scott) (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Ken Moule (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d).
The Boy Friend*/Fishin' The Blues*/Will O'-The Wisp*/Poor Arthur*/Blue Grass*.
(*Vocalion CD - Jazz At Toad Hall/Ken Moule Arranges For)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Ronnie Ross Seven Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)
(*Real Gone Jazz 4 CD set - Don Rendell Six Classic Albums plus bonus tracks)

Vic Lewis and his All Stars - June, 1959 (Ember CJS807)
Dickie McPherson, Jimmy Deuchar, Leon Calvert, Gordon Turnbill(Kenny Wheeler) (tp), Keith Christie (tb), Roy East (as), Vic Ash (cl,ts) Art Ellefson (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Terry Shannon (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
The Beaulie Suite/Selections From The Springbok And American Suite .

Vic Lewis and his All Stars - June, 1959 (Ember CJS807)
Dickie McPherson, Jimmy Deuchar, Leon Calvert, Gordon Turnbill(Kenny Wheeler) (tp), Keith Christie (tb), Roy East (as), Vic Ash (cl,ts) Art Ellefson (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Terry Shannon (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
The Beaulie Suite/Selections From The Springbok And American Suite .

Tony Crombie Orchestra - December 30th, 1959 (BBC Transcription)
Leon Calvert, Les Condon (tp), Al Newman (cl,as), Bobby Wellins (ts), Harry Klein (bs), Stan Tracey (p), Kenny Napper (b), Tony Crombie (d).
East Of The Sun*/Baby Blue*/Summertime*/Time's A-Wastin' (theme).
(*Vocalion CD - BBC Rare transcription recordings (1959-60) Volume Two)

Tempo TAP30 was titled "Jazz Inc. - Swinging Music in The Modern Manner". Although acclaimed by musicians, fans and several leading critics, the orchestra on this record performed for just seventeen weeks during 1959. Commercially, the band could be said to have failed, but musically it was a triumph.
Tony Crombie Orchestra - January 6th, 1960 (Tempo TAP30)
Leon Calvert, Les Condon (tp), Al Newman (cl,as), Bobby Wellins (ts), Harry Klein (bs), Stan Tracey (p), Kenny Napper (b), Tony Crombie (d).
Caravan*/Boo Bah*/Lullaby*/Reelin*/Li'l O'l Pottsville*^/Jamba* (as Jammin' on #)/I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart*/Summertime*.
(*Jasmine CD - Tony Crombie - Jazz Inc)
(#Ember CD - Tony Crombie - A Tribute)
(*Avid 2 CD set - Stan Tracey: Three Classic Albums Plus)
(^Giant Steps 2CD set - Soho After Dark 'London's '50s Modern Jazz Scene')

These titles were recorded at a concert in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA...
Vic Lewis and his All Stars - April 10th, 1960 (DJM)
Dickie McPherson, Jimmy Deuchar, Leon Calvert, Gordon Turnbill (tp), Keith Christie (tb), Roy East (as,fl), Vic Ash (cl,ts) Art Ellefson (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Terry Shannon (p), Ray Dempsey (g), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d), Vic Lewis (dir).
Port Of Spain/Little Darlin'.

Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - 1961 (Roulette/Columbia)
Ronnie Simmonds, Leon Calvert, Kenny Wheeler, Gus Galbraith (tp), Tony Russell, Eddie Harvey (tb), Johnny Dankworth, Ray East (as), Danny Moss, Art Ellefson (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Alan Branscombe (p), Spike Heatley (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d). (1)Kenny Napper replaced Spike Heatley.
String Of Camels/Winter Wail*/Cannonball/S.O. Blues*/Daily Date/When My Sugar Walks Down The Street*(1).
(*Roulette CD - The Best of the Roulette years)

Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - 1961 (Roulette/Columbia)
Ronnie Simmonds, Leon Calvert, Kenny Wheeler, Gus Galbraith (tp), Tony Russell, Eddie Harvey Ray Premru (1) (tb), Johnny Dankworth, Ray East (as), Vic Ash, Art Ellefson (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Alan Branscombe (p), Kenny Napper (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d).
Abandonado (1)/O Pato (1)/Sack O' Woe*/Curtain Up*.
(*Roulette CD - The Best of the Roulette years)

Johnny Dankworth Orchestra - 1963 (Fontana)
Personnel as 1961 above.
Hoe Down/Sing Sing Sing/Off The Cuff/Avenger's Theme.

At this time Johnny Dankworth started to produce albums that were not just a succession of big band jazz tracks, but were themed LPs or suites and the first of them was issued as What the Dickens !, the titles linked to associations with Charles Dickens characters or phrases.
Johnny Dankworth Orchestra with featured guests - July 29th and 31st, August 7th, and October 4th, 1963 (Fontana TF5203)
Gus Galbraith, Leon Calvert, Kenny Wheeler, Dickie Hawdon (tp), Tony Russell, Eddie Harvey (tb), Ron Snyder or Alf Reece (tu), Johnny Dankworth, Roy East (as,cl), Vic Ash (cl,ts), Art Ellefson (ts,b-cl), Alan Branscombe (p,vib,xyl), Kenny Napper or Spike Heatley (b), Johnny Butts (d). Special guests: Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Tony Coe, Tubby Hayes, Peter King, Ronnie Scott, Bobby Wellins, Dick Morrissey (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Ronnie Stephenson (d), Roy Webster (perc)
Prologue/Weller Never Did^/Little Nell^/The Infant Phenomenon/Demdest Little Fascinator/Dotheboys Hall/Ghosts^/David And The Bloaters/Please Sir, I Want Some More/The Artful Dodger/Waiting For Something To turn Up/fodson And Fogg/The Pickwick Club/Sergeant Buzfuz/Finale.
(Sepia RSCD 2016 - What the Dickens)
(^Salvo 4CD Box set - I Hear Music - A Celebration of the Life and Work of Cleo Laine & John Dankworth)

His second suite was recorded in New York and featured a number of star American musicians. It was titled The Zodiac Suite, the titles linked to star signs.
Johnny Dankworth Orchestra with featured guests - October 9th and 28th, November 2nd and 10th, 1964 (Fontana TF5229)
Greg Bowen (tp), Leon Calvert (tp,fhrn), Kenny Wheeler (tp,ten-hrn), Gus Galbraith (tp), Tony Russell, Johnny Marshall, Chris Smith (tb), Ron Snyder (tu), Johnny Dankworth, Al Newman (as,cl), Vic Ash (cl,ts), Art Ellefson (ts,cl), Paul Carroll (bs,as,cl), Alan Branscombe (p,vib), Kenny Napper (b), Johnny Butts (d). Special guests: Clark Terry (tp), Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb), Ronnie Scott (ts), David Snell (harp), Lucky Thompson (ts), Danny Moss (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Chuck Israels (b), Phil Woods (as), Zoot Sims (ts), Osie Johnson (d).
Theme: Way With The Stars^/Gemini/Leo/Scorpio/Sagitarius^/Aquarius/Pisces/Aries/Taurus/Cancer/Virgo/Libra/Capricorn/Coda.
(Sepia RSCD 2017 - The Zodiac Variations)
(^Salvo 4CD Box set - I Hear Music - A Celebration of the Life and Work of Cleo Laine & John Dankworth)

Ike Isaacs - 1966 (Morgan MR116)
Leon Calvert (tp,flhrn), Ray Swinfield (fl,saxes), Bill Le Sage (vib), Ike Isaacs (g), Spike Heatley (b), Barry Morgan, Art Morgan (d).
After Hours/Paris Fashion/Reflections At Dusk/Blushing Bride/Just Funky/Blues Espagnol/Dream Sequence/Two Way Favourite/The Second Of April/Sad September.

Kenny Clare / Ronnie Stephenson Big Band - August 11th, 1966 (Drum spectacular - Columbia TWO146)
Greg Bowen, Leon Calvert, Stan Roderick, Kenny Wheeler (tp), Laddie Busby, Nat Peck, Johnny Marshall (tb), Jackie Armstrong (b-tb), Douggie Robinson, Ray Warleigh (as), Art Ellefson, Ronnie Scott (ts), Harry Klein (bs), Stan Tracey (p), Lennie Bush (b), Kenny Clare, Ronnie Stephenson (d).
Drum Spectacular*/Caravan*/Portrait Of Elvin*/Talkin' About Drums*.
(*Vocalion CD - Big Band Spectacular / Drum Spectacular)

The Indo-British Ensemble - 1969 (Curried Jazz MFP1307)
Leon Calvert*, Kenny Wheeler^ (flhrn), Ray Swinfield (f), Jeff Clyne (b), Bill Eyden^, Art Morgan* (d), (with sitar, tabla and tamboura).
Yaman (The Colonels Lady)^/Lalit (Meeting Of The Twain)^/Bhimpalazi (Looking Eastward To The Blues)*/Pahari (University Raga)*.

Stan Butcher - 1967 (CBS S63072)
Leon Calvert (tp), George Hunter (as), Duncan Lamont (ts), Dick Abel (g), Arthur Watts (b), Barry Morgan (d), Barbara Moore (vcl), Stan Butcher (cond).
Windy Ridge/Take It Easy/A Riff For Miff/Time Out Of Mind/Tiny Tim/Just Dandy/Mike's Idea/Walkabout/Lunatic Fringe/Jumpin' Janie/Smokey/Like Wild.

Bob Leaper Big Band - 1970 (Try This One For Size - Pye NSLP18339)
Big band including: Leon Calvert, Tony Fisher, Kenny Wheeler (tp), Tony Coe, Bob Efford, Ronnie Scott (saxes), Bob Leaper (arr).
The Other Man's Grass/Don't Sleep In The Subway/Joanna/Too Much Too Soon/Call Me/Downtown/If You Ever Leave Me/Beautiful In The Rain/Where Are You Now?/Who Am I?.

Richard Rodney Bennett - c1971 (Jazz Calendar Suite - Philips 6500301)
Leon Calvert, Kenny Wheeler (tp), Keith Christie (tb), unknown (flhr) (tu), Duncan Lamont (as), Tony Coe (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Pat Smythe (p), Daryl Runswick (b), Kenny Clare (d), John Lanchberry (cond), Richard Rodney Bennett (arr).
Jazz Calendar Suite.

Tony Kinsey Big Band - February 17th, 1974 (Thames suite - Spotlite SPJ504)
Leon Calvert, Les Condon, Hank Shaw (tp), Keith Christie, Dave Horler, Geoff Perkins, Chris Smith (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain (sop,as), Peter King (as), Jimmy Hastings, Duncan Lamont (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Pat Smythe (el-p), Dick Abell (g), Lennie Bush (b), Tony Kinsey (d).
Sunbury Seminar*/Chertsey Mead*/Kingston Reach*/Backwater*/Henley Ho*.
(*Spotlite CD - Tony Kinsey: Thames Suite)

Stan Reynolds - September, 1975 (The Greatest Swing Band In The World...is British - Pye NSPL18469)
Big band including: Leon Calvert, Kenny Baker (tp), Vic Ash (cl), Ronnie Ross, Ronnie Chamberlain, Danny Moss (saxes).
(13 Titles).

The Swing Connection - c1979 (Opus in plastic - Hobo H0508)
Big band that included Vic Ash, Leon Calvert, Kenny Baker and Duncan Lamont...

Barbara Thompson - Early 1980s (Magician - Hobo H0501)
Stan Reynolds, Leon Calvert (tp), Roger Williams (tb), Barbara Thompson (fl,cl,as,ts), unknown (p,el-p), Ray Russell (g), Mo Foster (el-b), Barry Morgan (d).
Nurse Of Purple Mist/Drowned/Playground/Bazaar/Risk/ Morass.

Judd Solo - c1980s (The Judd Solo Band - RCA INTS1405)
Big band that included Vic Ash, Leon Calvert, Kenny Baker and Duncan Lamont...

The Dankworth Big Band - January 18th and 19th,1990 ("Live" at Ronnie Scott's - RSCD2015)
Derek Healey, Tony Fisher, Guy Barker, Leon Calvert (tp), Mark Nightingale, Eddie Harvey, Bill Geldard (tb), Dave Powell (tuba), Jamie Talbot (as), Don Rendell, Dave O'Higgins, Jimmy Hasting (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), John Horler (p), Alec Dankworth (bs, bs-g), Allan Ganley, Tony Kinsey (d), John Dankworth (ldr).
Caravan*/Old blues*/Bye Bye Manuel*/Stompiing At The Savoy*/Starburst*/ Georgia On My Mind*/Take the A Train*.
(*Ronnie Scott's CD - The Dankworth Big Band "Live" at Ronnie Scott's)


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